I wish to thank the many persons who helped me with this book.
Joseph Glenmullen urged me to undertake the project and then collaborated with me in the preparation, organization, and editing of the book. A former colleague of mine at the Harvard University Health Services during a ten-year period, we practiced together, he in psychiatry and I in internal medicine. His advice and friendship have been invaluable.
The late Florence Clothier Wislocki, MD, initially got me involved in end-of-life issues in the 1960s when we fought together for living-will legislation in Massachusetts. She paved the way for my going on the board of the Society for the Right-to-Die, where my association with the wonderful activists in that group began. Specifically, the late Joseph Fletcher, PhD, author of Situation Ethics, was a role model for me in my conversion to espousing physician aid-in-dying and euthanasia. Another in the Society for the Right-to-Die whose influence and friendship remain with me to this day is Sidney Rosoff, president of that organization and later of the Hemlock Society and World Federation of Right to Die Societies. Alice Mehling, dogged executive director of the Right to Die Society gave me important help in the early years, as did board members Ruth Smith and Bry Benjamin.
In more recent years, Derek Humphry was an inspiring leader as the founder of the Hemlock Society and continues to the present to give wise counsel. Faye Girsh gave me her overall encouragement, friendship, and support in end-of-life issues over the past two decades, and she allowed me to use in the book a modified version of her patients’ statement of wishes regarding Alzheimer’s disease care at the end of life, which, in turn, had been based partially on an Alzheimer statement prepared by the Arizona chapter of End-of-Life Choices. Richard MacDonald, MD, former medical director at the Hemlock Society and its successor organization, Compassion and Choices, and most recently a senior medical advisor to the Final Exit Network, has been an ever gracious and kind source of answers for my frequent questions, and I admire his courage and dedication in the work he has so generously given this whole movement. Charles Baron, professor of law at Boston College, and Garrick Cole, a Boston attorney—both of whom are clear-thinking experts in the legal intricacies of end-of-life care—were colleagues with me in the development of a model law for physician aid-in-dying, and they have given their time and advice to me through the years. They are good friends. Many of these persons also reviewed sections of the book and made excellent suggestions.
Ruth Porter, valued nurse practitioner colleague of mine in private practice, was a true ally in trying to care properly for dying patients. Russell Butler, MD, a neurologist colleague of mine in Massachusetts, has given important help to the movement through the years. William Comer, pharmacist, has through the years kindly discussed with me various pharmacological questions. I learned much from the late James Vorenburg, professor of law and dean of the Harvard Law School, who collaborated on several end-of-life projects. Harvey Sil-verglate rendered invaluable advice about legal issues. Nancy Dorf-man, president of the Boston right-to-die group, has been a steadfast friend and colleague in this field for many years, and she reviewed the statement of wishes pertaining to the possibility of cognitive decline. Barbara Coombs Lee, president and co-CEO of Compassion and Dying, has given freely of her support and advice, and Lois Schafer at the Compassion and Dying headquarters in Denver gave me assistance in thinking about living wills. N. Cody Webb, MD, has been a friend in the movement through many years and a never-failing source of information. S. James Adelstein, MD, collaborated in the 1980s with me in the creation of two articles about the physician’s responsibility toward hopelessly ill patients, and has been a close friend and wise counsel for over fifty years. Daniel Federman, MD, at Harvard Medical School, was critical to the success of the same project regarding hopelessly ill patients. Edwin Cassem, MD, also was an important contributor to that project. Eli Stutsman kindly reviewed material for me and made suggestions. Alan Meisel, JD, University of Pittsburgh, gave helpful advice regarding physician risks in certain circumstances. Daniel Brock, PhD, medical ethicist, has helped me a number of times in my thinking on end-of-life problems. Larry Eg-bert, MD, provided important support in this project on several occasions. Edward Lowenstein, MD, the Reverend Ralph Mero, and Richard Walters all gave me good assistance for which I am grateful.
There are many other unnamed medical colleagues of mine who have been leaders and allies in the evolution of the death-with-dignity movement.
Merloyd Lawrence has been the Perseus/Da Capo editor for the book. In a word, she has been wonderful in every way. There was hardly ever a suggestion with which I did not agree. Robert Lescher, our literary agent, was of invaluable help in guiding us to Merloyd.
Anne, my dear wife and principal sounding board, helped me with her ideas through many drafts and was my common-sense anchor for the book.
Lastly, and importantly, I thank those patients of mine and their families who allowed me to use their stories in this book.
Sidney H. Wanzer, MD January 2007